Eleanor Shanley Band: Danish tour: 7th - 18th February. 2007
From Keshcarrigan in County Leitrim, singer Eleanor Shanley grew up surrounded by music.
Her mother's family were all fireside singers. Upon leaving school she worked in the personnel department in FAS and studied drama at night time.
Eleanor continued to sing at informal sessions and it was at one of these in Dublin pub "The Merchant" that she was discovered by famed Galway traditional band De Danaan. They asked her to go to Galway to discuss her joining the band, as they had a tour of Finland lined up in two weeks time. She was to stay five years with the well travelled trad ambassadors.
She toured the world with De Danaan and recorded two critically acclaimed albums - "Jacket of Batteries" and the ground-breaking "Half Set in Harlem". After five years on the road with De Danaan, Eleanor quit in December 1992, deciding that it was time to pursue a solo career.
Eleanor then began singing and performing with future Eurovision winner Charlie McGettigan and Brendan Emmet. It was Charlie who introduced her to manager Mattie Fox, who secured a solo deal for her with Warners in Ireland and Grapevine in the UK. Eleanor then began work on putting together her first solo album. She spent months sifting through tapes before finally settling on 14 to record.
Her first album "Eleanor Shanley" featured hits such as "Road to Glory" - "In the Ghetto". After the release of her first solo album Eleanor began touring extensively in Ireland, UK and Europe, where she supported Christy Moore as well as doing solo shows.
She released her second album "Desert Heart" in April 1997.
"I grew up with traditional music and it's still my main love, although I've probably broken away from it slightly with some of these songs", she says.
In 2000 Eleanor got together with Ronnie Drew and they completed a 16 date sell out tour in Ireland, which proved to be an outstanding success.
Eleanor and Ronnie then recorded an album together "A Couple More Years".
Eleanor Shanley & Ronnie Drew " EL AMOR DE MI VIDA [ The Love of My Life ] " out now !
Since their successful collaboration a few years back, Ronnie Drew, the legendary ex Dubliner, and Eleanor Shanley, who since her time with De Dannan has gained a reputation of possessing one of Ireland’s finest voices, have been on the lookout for songs that suit their particular talents.
El Amor De Mi Vida (the title track by Warren Zevon) is a stunning album produced by Mike Hanrahan of Stockton’s Wing fame, with fresh interpretations of songs from many different genres.
The combination of Drew’s instantly recognisable gutsy, raw-edged vocals and Shanley’s much subtler delicate voice give us unforgettable versions of The Good old Days (Eels) with sax by Keith Donald, Hang Down Your Head (Tom Waits), The Ballad of Henry Lee (Nick Cave) featuring Sharon Shannon, and Farewell (Dylan) with haunting fiddle playing by Winnie Horan.
Eleanor Shanley also contributes a solo version of When God Made Me (Neil Young) and the traditional Sé Fáth mo Bhuartha, while Ronnie Drew performs a memorable version of Beautiful World (Brady) with Paul Brady on piano.
Eleanor Shanley Band:
Eleanor Shanley: Vocal, guitar
Frankie Lane: Vocal, guitar, dobro
Paul Kelly: violin, mandolin, vocal
Diskografi:
A place of my own (2007) m. Frankie Lane & Paul Kelly
El Amor De Mi Vida (2006) m. Ronnie Drew
Another Day's Journey (2004) m. Ivan Le Parr
How the West was Won (2002) m. De Dannan
Eleanor Shanley & Friends (2001)
The Ould Plaid Shawl (2001) m. John Faulkner
A Couple More Years (2000) m. Ronnie Drew
Restless Spirit (1998) m. Tommy Flemming
Desert Heart (1997)
Eleanor Shanley (1995)
30 Years a Greying (1994) m. The Dubliners
Half Set in Harlem (1991) m. De Dannan
A Jacket Of Batteries (1990) m. De Dannan